Care About Our Children's Future

Opinion - OTHER VIEWS - My Word

I have written many letters over the past few years concerning many issues. I have come to the sad conclusion that few, if any, folks really give a hoot about what I or anyone else thinks.

It would be really cool if some of our young parents or county leaders would take up the gauntlet and at least acknowledge that there are problems in Lake County.

Doesn't anyone care that our schools are not preparing our youngsters for a future in a world that is becoming more competitive each day? Reading, writing and arithmetic were sufficient to prepare a youngster for life on the farm or in a low-paying manufacturing job, but is that all that we dream and hope for our kids?

To really prepare our youngsters, you have to capture their interest, begin their education at an early age in the system. You can't wait until the fourth, fifth or sixth grade to teach them.

These are our future leaders, scientists, presidents. Surely, we have a right to expect greater things for our kids? Young parents, concerned citizens, senior citizens: Don't any of you really care about growth at any cost or our environment or our natural beauty here in Lake County?

Is there anybody left who gets a charge out of seeing a beautiful, clean stream or lake, or an eagle flying high in a nonpolluted sky, or otters playing in our lakes?

When is the last time you saw a beautiful sunset in all of its innocence and beauty in a child's eyes?

Have we forgotten our own children and how we marveled at the wonder in their faces when they saw a turtle or grasshopper or caught their first fish?

Have we allowed ourselves to grow so old and callous that we no longer respect ourselves, our neighbors, our flag, our God or anything else?

We have allowed ourselves and our once-proud nation to become a sad excuse for what was once a source of pride. We respected ourselves and earned the respect of nations and people.

Now what do we really have to be proud of?

We have betrayed our children and the precious legacy that was placed in our hands for safekeeping. We will pass on to them a corrupt society, devoid of natural beauty, devoid of pure and clean air and water, a godless society where greed is the watchword and duty, honor, country are hollow, meaningless words.

The small white crosses in hallowed cemeteries around the world are stained by the tears of those patriots who, down through the centuries, fought the good fight.